Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Bryan Siziba
2 August 2008
Harare — REGEDZAI Matongo - a secretary at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe - faces permanent disabilities from her alleged attack by ex-boyfriend and local musician, Progress Chipfumo at her Avenues flat last month.
This is according to the affidavit by Regedzai's medical doctor presented to Harare magistrate, Ms Olivia Mariga.
According to the doctor - Michael Ngwaru - he observed that Regedzai was severely assaulted because the injuries he beheld were due to blood trauma, which allude to the possibility of severe assault by clenched fists.
Ngwaru said this during cross-examination by prosecutor Allen Masiya.
"Ms Matongo had a black eye, she was bleeding through the nose, was complaining about headaches, she was coughing blood and was also complaining about a loose tooth.
"All these injuries were due to blood trauma which should have had been caused by multiple blows.
"There are possibilities that she would suffer permanent disability from the blood trauma in the form of recurrent headaches or other related diseases," said Ngwaru.
However, Chipfumo's defence lawyer Mr Lovemore Muzana rubbished the allegations as an act of complicity and maintained that there was exaggeration of the magnitude of the alleged assault by fists.
He argued that Regedzai might have fallen and injured herself and then used the self-inflicted injuries to fabricate the alleged assault by Chipfumo.
Ngwaru reiterated that the complaints by Regedzai were consistent to his observations and findings recorded in the medical affidavit.
Meanwhile, Chipfumo again pleaded not guilty and maintained that he only pushed and shoved Regedzai violently but did not assault her.
He also refuted allegations by the security guard, Philemon Chindedza who claimed that he was also assaulted by the musician on the night he is alleged to have beaten up his ex-girlfriend on being denied sex.
Chipfumo said the security guard intervened when he had just pushed Regedzai and effectively thwarted any possible assault.
"I only pushed her violently but did not assault her by clenched fists as alleged by her.
"I also did not assault the security guard, neither of the two.
"Actually I am surprised that they accuse me of having assaulted her yet he is the one who prevented the (possible) assault because he intervened when I had started pushing her," said Chipfumo.
Judgement on the matter is set for August 12.
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